Overview
St. Jerome Church stands high up in the town of Morong. It was built in 1615 by Chinese craftsmen as evidenced by the Chinese-style lions at the entrance to the steep driveway. It took three years to construct the church which was funded by the people of Morong. The stone and mortar church has steps leading up to the front. The cross on the tower is illuminated at night and can be seen clearly from the countryside. It has a tower in front with a huge statue of St. Michael the Archangel. The three-storey façade, which was built in 1850-1853 to support a new bell tower, is one of the most splendid examples of baroque architecture in the Philippines. It is in graduated levels, surmounted by a four-storey octagonal bell tower of European influence, with paired columns at the four exterior corners. The ornamentation consists of a long simple nave. The 14 Stations of the Cross are beautifully done. The restoration of the ceiling has been done and old beams are now visible.
An added attraction in the church is the first-class relic of the town's patron saint, Saint Jerome (Patron of scholars of the bible, a saint who translated the bible, feast day: September 30). The relic (a part of the saint's body) was given to the parish in 2005 through the effort of then parish priest, Rev. Fr. Larry Paz (now assigned in Parang, Marikina City, 2007-present) when the parishioners had their first pilgrimage tour to Holy Land and the Vatican. The relic is publicly exposed every Saturday during the anticipated mass, guarded by the knights of Saint Jerome's. The kissing of the relic was done every last Saturday of the month. After 2 years, another relic, this time bigger, was given to the parish as a gift from the main chaplain of the church of St. Jerome's in Rome. This relic is now on top of the main altar, which is being kissed by the priest every time there is a mass.
Accommodations
- Loreland Farm Resort
Location: Sitio Loreland, Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City, Antipolo / Rizal, Manila, Philippines
- Seven Suites Hotel Observatory
Location: Hollywood Hills Sumulong Highway, Antipolo / Rizal, Manila, Philippines
- Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal
Location: Eastridge Avenue, Binangonan, Antipolo / Rizal, Manila, Philippines
- Villa Jhoana Resort
Location: Ibanez St., Angono, Rizal, Antipolo / Rizal, Manila, Philippines
How to get there
- The province of Rizal is 110 kilometers south of Manila. It is accessible by land transportation from Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces of Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.
- Buses, various public utility vehicles, and the metro rail system with stations at Crossing/EDSA in Mandaluyong City, Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City and Farmer’s Market in Cubao, Quezon City ply the routes to Antipolo, Taytay, Cainta, Binangonan, Angono, Tanay, and other towns in Rizal.
- In touring around the town or from one city to another city, jeepneys and tricycles are available as a mode of transportation.